Curcuma plant named &#39;Curzena&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new  curcuma  plant particularly distinguished by dark-pink flowers with red tips and green leaves with red veins is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Curcuma L.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘Curzena’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of curcuma,botanically known as Curcuma L., and hereinafter referred to by thecultivar name ‘Curzena’. The new cultivar originated from ahybridization made in June 2002 in De Lier, The Netherlands. The femaleparent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1995720’ (unpatented), whilethe male parent was the proprietary curcuma plant ‘1998154-01’(unpatented).

The new cultivar was created in 2003 and has been asexually reproducedrepeatedly by in vitro propagation in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and DeLier, The Netherlands over a two-year period. The present invention hasbeen found to retain its distinctive characteristics through successiveasexual propagations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this cultivar were applied with the EuropeanUnion on Aug. 10, 2004.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in De Lier, The Netherlands.

-   -   1) Dark pink flowers with red tips; and    -   2) Green leaves that contain red veins.

DESCRIPTION OF PHOTOGRAPHS

This new curcuma plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographswhich show the overall plant habit including bloom, buds and foliage ofthe plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photographs are of a 140-dayold plant grown in a greenhouse in De Lier, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds andfoliage.

FIG. 2 shows the mature flower.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘Curzena’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inDe Lier, The Netherlands. The plant history was taken on 140-day oldplants which were planted as rooted cuttings in 14-cm pots in 2005 andgrown in a glass greenhouse between 19° C. and 28° C. Observations weremade in the spring. Color readings were taken under natural light in thegreenhouse. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chart ofThe Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.) (2001).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Zingiberaceae.        -   Botanical.—Curcuma L.        -   Common name.—Hidden Lily.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—‘1995720’, a proprietary pink-flowered            curcuma plant (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—‘1998154-01’, a proprietary purpled-flowered            curcuma plant (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Propagation.—In vitro propagation.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—10 days.        -   Root description.—RHS 155D, moderately free branching,            non-fibrous, slightly fleshy.        -   Average number of rhizomes (per plant).—11.        -   Rhizome diameter.—0.5 cm.-   Plant:    -   -   Form/Growth.—Rhizotomatous herbaceous perennial, shoots grow            from the base.        -   Habit.—Broad, upright.        -   Height (measured from the soil).—48.5 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—47.9 cm.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—15-weeks for a            10 cm to 15-cm pot.        -   Keeping quality.—31 days.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Shape.—Lorate.        -   Size.—Length (fully expanded): 44.7 cm Width: 3.7 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acuminate.        -   Base.—Sheathing, winged; average length of wing is 9.4 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright to arching.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS 137B to            RHS 137C; base is RHS 183A to RHS 187A (greyed-purple).        -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.        -   Venation.—Type: Parallel Color: Main vein: RHS 183A to RHS            187A Secondary veins: Same as leaf surface Upper surface:            RHS 137B Lower surface: RHS 137B to RHS 137C; base is RHS            183A to RHS 187A (greyed-purple).-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Blooming habit (flowering season).—Spring.        -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plant.—3 days.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Inflorescence type.—Raceme.        -   Arrangement.—Terminal racemes grow from the centers of the            shoots.        -   Size.—Length: 14.2 cm Diameter: 6.9 cm.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowers.—Size: Length: 2.5 cm Width: 1.5 cm Shape: Irregular            corolla consisting of three petals, one of which is            conspicuous and colorful, flanked by a smaller petal on each            side;

opposite the large petal is a small labellum consisting of two fusedstamen Color: Upper petal: Upper surface: RHS 83A to RHS 86A while thebase is slightly lighter Lower surface: RHS 86A to RHS 86B while thebase is lighter Lateral and lower petals: Upper surface: RHS 155B; thetip is RHS 85C to RHS 85D Lower surface: RHS 155B; the tip is RHS 85D.

-   -   -   Flower bracts.—Quantity: 14 Shape: Upper bracts: Ovate Lower            bracts: Orbicular Apex: Rounded Base: Fused Margin: Entire            Texture: Smooth, glossy Size: Length: 5.5 cm; the lower            bracts are 4.0 cm Width: 3.6 cm Color: Upper surface: RHS            72B; the tip and base are slightly tinged with RHS 148A            (yellow-green); the lower bracts are RHS 183B to RHS 184B            with an RHS 146C to RHS 146D (yellow-green) base Lower            surface: RHS 72B; the tip and base are slightly tinged with            RHS 148A (yellow-green); the lower bracts are RHS 146C and            tinged at the tip with RHS 184B.        -   Peduncle.—Color: RHS 137B Length: 26.7 cm Diameter: 0.4 cm            Texture: Smooth, rounded, slightly glossy Angle: Vertical            (90°)

-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Quantity: 2, petaloid, fertile Filament: Length:            1.3 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm Color: RHS 85D the tips are darker,            RHS 85A Anther color: RHS 155D Pollen: Absent.        -   Pistil.—Quantity: 1 Length: 1.8 cm.        -   Style.—Length: 1.7 cm Diameter: 0.05 cm Color: RHS N155A.        -   Stigma.—Length: 0.1 cm Diameter: 0.15 cm Color: RHS N155A.

-   Fruit and seed set: Seed production has not been observed to date

-   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or    susceptibility to diseases or insects noted to date. Similar to    other curcuma varieties

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

‘Curzena’ differs from the female parent ‘1995720’ (unpatented), byhaving dark-pink flowers with red tips and green leaves with red veins,while ‘1995720’ has pink flowers with green tips and green leaves withno distinct veins.

‘Curzena’ differs from the male parent ‘1998154-01’ (unpatented), byhaving dark-pink flowers, while ‘1998154-01’ has purple flowers.

‘Curzena’ differs from the commercial variety ‘Curleno’ (unpatented), byhaving pink flowers and green leaves with red veins, while ‘Curleno’ haspink-white flowers and green leaves with no veins. In addition,‘Curzena’ has a long flower stem, while ‘Curleno’ has a medium flowerstem.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of curcuma plant as shown and describedherein.